Work is underway to construct a new brain injury hospital.
Run by The Disabilities Trust, the hospital is the latest phase of development at York’s Chocolate Works.
Plans for the new facility were given the go-ahead in October 2021, securing 145 healthcare jobs, and retaining a vital mental health service in the city following the closure of The Retreat.
The new unit will provide 36 beds across four wards and four assessment flats, alongside courtyards and a therapeutic garden.
The Disabilities Trust works to improve the lives of people with disabilities, supporting those with acquired brain injuries. Its York unit specialises in rehabilitating adults with an acquired brain injury.
Property developer HBD is in charge of the hospital’s construction, with a planned completion date of February 2023.
Important resource
Tom Wheldon, director at HBD, said: “The unit is an important resource for the city, run by a hugely dedicated and experienced team who have helped hundreds of people, so it’s great to see work getting underway on site”.
“We’re pleased to have been able to support the Disabilities Trust in securing its future in York, and look forward to working with the team as the charity begins its next chapter at the Chocolate Works.”
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Bill Chidgey, director of corporate services at The Disabilities Trust, said: “Seeing work starting on site is an exciting milestone for us – we’re relieved to have secured the future of the unit in York and we look forward to seeing the plans come to life and becoming part of the fantastic community at the Chocolate Works.”
The new hospital marks the latest phase of HBD’s award-winning Chocolate Works development.
It is part of a nine-year regeneration project that started with the restoration of the former Terry’s Chocolate Orange Factory.
After falling into disrepair in the wake of its closure, when HBD purchased it in 2013, five of its listed buildings were on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk Register.